Source: Radio New Zealand

By Gwenaёlle Chollet, journalism student

Eight young New Zealanders will soon travel in the wake of great polar explorers, sailing from Argentina to Antarctica across the notorious Drake Passage on the historic tall ship Bark EUROPA.

The group of 18 to 30 year olds will set sail in January for a month-long voyage alongside record-breaking sailor Lisa Blair, as part of the Antarctic Heritage Trust’s inspiring explorers expedition.

Wellington global studies graduate Meleki Schulster, 21, said sailing, living and sleeping on a ship would be an entirely new experience.

“It looks like it’s out of the Pirates of the Carribean, it’s so cool. It feels like a crazy adventure and I’m always keen on an adventure,” he said.

“I honestly can’t wait to do it all. I still don’t know how I made it, but I’m so grateful, so honoured and feel so privileged to be in this spot.

“Our ancestors used to use the stars and used to go on voyages with even less crazy boats. It’s going to be a really cool experience to be able to tie it back to them and just inspire people to jump on board.”

The group would learn to sail the ship, with shifts of four hours on and eight hours off, before exploring the Antarctic Peninsula for just over a week.

The Drake Passage was known for its contrasting conditions – the Drake Lake or the Drake Shake.

Blair said the Drake Lake was a calm and quiet sea, while the Drake Shake saw storms thousands of nautical miles wide trying to funnel through the narrow passage.

“It’s luck of the draw. You could be there in a high-pressure system, which is no wind, calm seas, or you could be out there in 10-metre breaking seas. Everyone’s going to be seasick in those conditions. Cold, wet, maybe snowing, like brutal climate so we don’t know what will happen,” she said.

Blair said the Antarctic Heritage Trust aimed to inspire a spirit of adventure by providing opportunities for young people to follow in the footsteps of explorers who traversed the continent more than 100 years ago.

“Part of the inspiring explorers programme is that explorer’s mindset. So fostering their curiosity, their innovation, talking to teamwork, building their resilience and just really structuring their mind to go through challenges that they might face after this,” she said.

Blair holds eight world records, including being the fastest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica in 2022.

However, sailing a tall ship would also be a new experience for her and she would have to remember the names of different ropes and 24 sails like everyone else.

Blair said she understood what the group would go through, given she did not start sailing until the age of 25.

“I still really remember my first experience with it and how I struggled in certain things, so just trying to bring that to them and make them feel supported,” she said.

“I really think there’s so much incredible value for us, as a global world, in making sure that the next generation of people coming through can have forged a connection with Antarctica because we don’t protect what we aren’t connected to.”

Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton journeyed to Antarctica on tall ships like the Bark EUROPA.

Bark EUROPA was built in 1911 in Germany as a floating lighthouse on the Elbe river before being converted into a fully-operational sailing ship.

As well as learning to sail the ship, the group would participate in Bark EUROPA’s collaboration with the Polar Citizen Science Collective to gather data such as microplastic sampling and log bird and whale sightings.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

One person is dead after a vehicle crashed into water in the Hawke’s Bay town of Wairoa.

Police were alerted just after 4am on Saturday.

It happened at the intersection of Carroll Street and River Parade.

The National Dive Squad will inspect the vehicle, but it was not believed anyone was unaccounted for.

Cordons were in place while emergency services staff worked at the scene.

Motorists should avoid the area if possible, police said.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Labour Party faithful are upbeat as they rally in Auckland’s viaduct, roughly one year out from the next election.

The mood has been energetic off the back of recent polling that has Labour tracking ahead of National on almost all issues, including the cost of living.

Already in campaign mode, Labour leader Chris Hipkins took a swipe at Te Pāti Māori in his opening remarks to the membership on Friday.

“I recently saw a whakataukī quoted in the media with reference to a different political party in New Zealand.

“He tōtara wāhi rua he kai nā te ahi – a tōtara that is split in half is only good for firewood. Well I can assure you that our waka is made of a very solid tōtara.”

There were lots of cheers and a series of standing ovations as the party’s leadership presented a united front at the top of the conference.

“We are energised, we are focused and we are determined to make this a one-term government,” Hipkins said.

Deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni said the coalition government’s policy programme had put people through so much.

“We now have a health system that is falling over right before our eyes. We’ve seen the cancellation of thousands of state housing builds and infrastructure projects, increased unemployment and skyrocketing cost of living.

“A tax on our education system and teachers, a tax on workers wanting a fair deal, a tax on women with the scrapping of pay equity, attacks on our rainbow community.

“And where do we even start with the attacks on Māoridom and Te Tiriti?

“We must keep fighting. We need to support each other, to keep the light burning. We have to retain hope and we have to believe that we can win.”

Sepuloni, like many other speakers, remarked on the varying views held in the Labour Party and pitched them as a good thing.

“We don’t all look the same in the Labour Party. We are a very diverse bunch. This is probably no starker than when looking at your leadership. You have a Sharkies-wearing ginga leader from the Hutt and an Amazonian Pasifika pulatasi-wearing deputy leader from West Auckland.

“We look like we come from different worlds. Have we always agreed over our 17 years of working together? Hell no.

“But do we share the same values and care enough about the same things to make it work? Abso-freaking-lutely.”

‘Doesn’t it feel good to see those numbers rise?’ – Labour president

Party president Jill Day said it was encouraging to see public support for Labour rebuilding.

“Now I know the only poll that matters is the one on election day, but doesn’t it feel good to see those numbers rise?” she said, as members cheered.

“To see those numbers rise, to feel the tide turning, to know that New Zealanders are putting their trust back in our party, our caucus, and our leader, Chris Hipkins.”

Day said it had been a tough couple of years.

“Every time we think this National government has gone too far, it pushes a bit further.

“It’s exhausting, it’s frustrating and it’s heartbreaking because behind every decision National makes, a real person is paying the price.

“We see that in the mum, working two jobs, having to choose between petrol and kai for her kids, kaumatua waiting weeks for a GP appointment and teachers buying classroom supplies from their own pay.”

Day said the party was busy organising ahead of the election and told members every call, leaflet and conversation mattered.

“Our LECs are growing stronger, our volunteers are knocking on doors, our branches are welcoming new members, and we’re selecting candidates who know their communities, who are grounded in the issues and who will not back down from the hard work ahead.

“Election 2026, will be won in the same way Labour has always won: by being visible, by being organised and by showing up, especially when it’s hard.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Local Government Minister has announced cost cutting measures for wastewater aimed at boosting savings for ratepayers.

New national wastewater environmental performances standards hope to save up to $830 million over the next 35 years by streamlining wastewater consents.

Minister Simon Watts said 60 percent of treatment plants needed new consents within the next decade, and many were already operating on expired consents.

“These standards that we’re announcing today will make sure consenting keeps pace with the needs for upgrades, avoids wasteful spending, and reduces the risk of wastewater overflows into rivers, lakes, and the sea,” he said.

Watts said the change removes unnecessary delays and costly over-engineering.

Councils would have a nationally consistent framework for renewing wastewater consents for the first time, Watts said.

The standards applied to over 330 publicly owned treatment plants across the country, and would immediately reduce the need for expensive, duplicated technical assessments.

Watts described the standards as a major step forward.

Reducing consenting costs by up to 40 percent per plant meant a potential saving of $300,000 to $600,000, and up to 60 percent for smaller plants, he said.

Speaking to media, Watts said the nationally consistent standards meant there was now a national minimum standard to uphold.

“There’s been a significant process of engagement across the broad sectors, as I outlined, in order to set these standards,” he said.

“The Water Services Authority is taking a leadership in regards to this, to ensure that we balance the needs in regards to environmental protection.”

The new standards come into effect on 19 December.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police are at the scene of a serious crash in Picton involving a truck and a motor home.

Emergency services were called about 7.45am on Saturday to the scene on Dublin Street.

They said initial indications were that one person had been seriously injured.

The road was closed, and diversions would be in place.

Police asked motorists to avoid the area.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Emergency services are attending a serious crash where a vehicle has crashed into a river in Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay.

Police said they were still seeking to confirm whether anyone remained trapped inside the vehicle.

Emergency services were called about 4.10am after a report of a vehicle leaving the road and entering the water near the intersection of Carroll Street and River Parade.

Police said cordons were in place, and motorists should avoid the area if possible.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The declining state of some waterways is putting whitebait species at greater risk, according to the Department of Conservation (DOC).

DOC’s new freshwater fish report has found 28 percent of species are facing extinction and 32 percent are at risk of becoming threatened.

Inanga – one of the six species fished as whitebait – has moved from being classified as ‘At Risk – Declining’ to ‘Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable’.

The conservation agency said the worsened status reflected problems with the species’ spawning habitat, which was estimated to be less than 100 hectares nationally.

Since the last report of this kind in 2017, 11 species had worsened in status and 12 had improved, but DOC said that was largely due to better data rather than reduced threats.

DOC freshwater species manager Emily Funnell told RNZ habitat changes, such as sedimentation and shifted rivers due to climate change, were driving the problems.

“When we had Cyclone Gabrielle a few years ago up in the North Island that actually really impacted Inanga spawning habitat because whole rivers shifted from where they normally were.”

Funnell said that the areas would recover and come back over time, but it could have “pretty significant impact” on the fish.

She said to help fix the problems, people could get involved with community groups that restored habitats, fenced off rivers and got involved with regional councils.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Set on the coast of Hawke’s Bay, Te Aratipi Station offers walkers on the farm views across the bay, from the Māhia Peninsula right around to Mt Ruapehu on a clear day.

After walking more than 6000 steps across lush green farmland, the group of walkers are rewarded with beautiful views of Te Motu-o-Kura, also known to Hawke’s Bay locals as Bare Island.

This is only the second season Te Aratipi Station near Waimārama has been open to walkers.

Ro and Ed Palmer, along with their sons Selby and Harry, are just the latest of the Palmer family to call the sheep and beef station home after it was bought by Selby Miles Palmer in 1915.

The 1200-hectare hill country station now features two main walking tracks with views from the Māhia Peninsula, through to the Ruahines, Kawekas, Manawatū Gorge, and on a clear day, Mt Ruapehu.

“We have recently started a new agritourism venture offering some amazing Hawke’s Bay farm experiences,” Ro told Country Life. “This includes some gorgeous farm walks, farm golf during summer, accommodation and a family wilderness experience, and much more.”

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Ro, who has a background in hospitality, events and tourism, started the agritourism business out of her passion for the property.

“So it kind of combines my background and what we’ve got here,” she said.

“In the Hawke’s Bay they always talk about terroir for wineries. But I feel like we have our own sense of place as well here … and it would just be crazy not to kind of share that or continue that because it is a really special place.”

They cater to a mix of locals and international visitors – the two walking groups today have come from polar ends of the North Island, Auckland and Wellington.

For every experience booked, the family plants a native tree over Matariki weekend to help restore parts of the farm which have been protected through covenants under the QEII National Trust.

“The whole idea is we kind of wanted to mimic what they do in Italy around the olive harvest,” Ro explained.

“Friends, family and even guests come and plant over Matariki weekend and then we’ll have a lovely long shared lunch to celebrate the season.”

Ro said one of the reasons they looked to agritourism was the positive experience they enjoyed welcoming visitors on farm as part of the national Open Farm days.

She said while at this stage the agritourism side of the business was done more for a love of it – with the sheep and beef side still very profitable – it also helped diversify their income.

“You know, there might be a stage where we will need to be dependent on agritourism and that’s when I’ll need to ramp things up. But in these initial stages, while we feel our way through, it’s really mainly to keep me out of trouble.”

They operate the agritourism business around the happenings on farm, and the walk is open from Labour Weekend through to June to avoid the lambing season.

“It’s really just the start of it and [we] have to figure out the stock side of things – where to have cattle and sheep and make sure everyone’s safe,” Ed explained.

He’s happy to share the farm with others though, and build on the “solid grounding” gained through his great grandfather, Selby.

“Hopefully we can carry it on, but we’ll see. Time will tell.”

Learn more:

You can learn more about Te Aratipi Station, here.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

They’re only into their fourth year growing avocados but they’re already sharing their passion for the fruit with visitors from all over the world.

In March 2022, Tim Rosamond and Michele Ricou moved from Wellington, where they were working as IT professionals, to take on an overgrown avocado orchard near Katikati in the Bay of Plenty, drawn by the weather and a change in lifestyle.

But it wasn’t all plain sailing with weather challenges and the high cost of harvesting the enormous trees.

While Ricou kept working remotely in IT, there was still a shortfall in income.

“We had a really good crop the first year, and then when I crunched all the numbers in the spreadsheet and I found out that we didn’t make any money that year, I was like, wow, if that’s a year that we’ve had a good crop and we didn’t make any money, then I’m not looking forward to a year we have a bad crop,” Rosamond said.

“Michele was threatening that I’d have to go and get another, a real job. And I was trying to avoid that … so I’m like, okay, so what else can we do?”

With encouragement from friends and support from Katch Katikati, which was keen to promote the region’s produce, they launched Avocado Tours.

Last year, they hosted 500 visitors to a guided walk through the orchard, peppered with Tim’s avocado anecdotes and facts about the fruit, finished off with a gourmet tasting of avocado-laced treats including bespoke ice cream and guacamole.

Keeping the tours simple and authentic is important, Rosamond told Country Life.

“Me being the grower and sharing all my learnings in my short time … a lot of people you know, get inspired by that.

“A lot of people dream … but not many people execute on those dreams.”

Follow Country Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart or wherever you get your podcasts.

Tours account for “a highly profitable” 25 percent of the orchard’s income and they hope it will become the main income stream in five years.

“Then we’re a bit more in control of our own destiny.

“I think if we’re expecting the avocado industry to all of a sudden go back to the heydays of 10 years ago, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

But they do hope by sharing their passion for the fruit they can grow demand.

The couple grow the mainstream Hass variety on 260 trees coming up for 30 years old on 3.4ha.

Michele Ricou said the orchard today was quite different from when they first arrived.

“It was like going into one of those European cathedrals … even in summer, it was cold, and it was dark, and when we did the pruning, it was like the worst storm had ever come through.”

Rosamond has undertaken an extensive pruning programme to cut down the high cost of harvesting the giant trees, soaking up knowledge from other growers and online.

He’s found his corporate background does help despite the “quite overwhelming” scale of the jobs facing them in the orchard.

“In the corporate world, you might have weekly, monthly or quarterly goals that you might be focused on. You might even have an annual goal.

“Here I’m talking about having an eight-to-10-year goal. You’ve got to break things down into manageable chunks.”

Rosamond said he was used to soaking up information when working in the rapidly changing IT industry.

“So, in three years, it’s sort of been drinking from the fire hose, but I finally feel like now I’ve got enough information.

“I just need the experience of just applying what I’ve learned.”

Visitors enjoy the park-like grounds and the bird life as well as the nuts and bolts of a working orchard, he said.

“And we’ve got a great sustainability story to tell as well.”

Originally not a big fan of avocados, Rosamond’s now a convert with a mission to convert others.

“If we can help do our little bit to increase demand, I feel like we’re doing our little bit helping people live healthier lives by growing something that we know is good for people.”

Learn more:

• Learn more about Avocado Tours here

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

When you control the weather, it’s possible to keeping growing all year round, as large vegetable producer Leaderbrand has found out.

Since officially opening last April, its Future Farms facility in Gisborne has allowed it to grow salad greens 52 weeks of the year.

The innovative greenhouse technology essentially means they control the weather, its manager Billy Stackhouse told Country Life.

“You have more security every week of supply with something like this,” he said.

Follow Country Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart or wherever you get your podcasts.

Stackhouse has been with Leaderbrand for close to a fifth of the company’s 50-year history.

He said it’s been exciting to be part of the changes, including overseeing the Future Farms site coming together, which will help the team make “data-driven decisions” and grow better quality produce, more consistently.

The greenhouse requires no additional heating during the winter months, instead trapping warmth from the sun.

When Country Life visited, temperatures inside ranged between 33-34C, while outside it was several degrees cooler at 28C.

There are ways to manage the hot temperatures, as Stackhouse explained.

“[We’ve] just been putting on some shading spray on top of the greenhouse, so that helps take the heat and light out.”

The greenhouse also has a self-sufficient supply of rainwater harvested from the roof – an area spanning close to 11-hectares or about 15 rugby fields. The water is then transferred into a 50 million litre storage dam to be used for irrigation as needed throughout the year.

“We’re all on automated irrigation. So that’s all set up on a computer and I can manage that on a day-to-day basis.”

It’s staffed by a team of about six, including Stackhouse.

The greenhouse is designed so they can still operate 100 to 150 horsepower tractors inside.

“We have some electric machinery – an electric harvester and electric platforms, we call them, with trailers that go alongside the harvester and stack our crates.”

Technology, such as a steaming machine, has also helped with one of the most labour intensive tasks. With such great growing conditions, weeds are a pain for growers at any scale.

Learn more:

You can learn more about Te Aratipi Station, here.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A coroner is again warning fishers to wear a lifejacket and not fish alone, after a man died when he was swept away at Omaha Beach, North Auckland.

Younchang Ko, 67, was fishing at his favourite spot, the estuary on Omaha Beach, on March 9, 2024 when he disappeared into the water.

He was found floating in the water some time later but couldn’t be revived.

A report by Auckland Coroner Erin Woolley released on Saturday, detailed the circumstances of Ko’s death, but couldn’t conclusively determine the cause.

“In accordance with the wishes of Younchang’s family, a lesser, rather than a full, post-mortem examination of Younchang’s body was carried out,” Woolley explained.

“The forensic pathologist who carried out the post-mortem explained that drowning is a medical diagnosis of exclusion that can only be made after a full post-mortem examination has been performed.”

Ko was found to have a heart disease, which made it unclear whether his cause of death was drowning or a heart complication.

On the day of Ko’s death, he was fishing alone.

“Other people at the beach saw him fishing in knee-deep water near the mouth of the estuary at the northern end of the beach. For the next three and a half hours, Younchang stood in the water fishing, and did not appear to reposition himself when the tide began to rise,” the Coroner wrote.

As the tide continued to rise and the current got stronger, Ko eventually called for help.

“A person nearby responded asking Younchang if he was okay, but he did not reply. He then went under the water and did not make any attempt to swim. He was still holding his fishing rod.”

One witness called emergency services while another entered the water to try and pull Ko out, but the current was too strong.

Eventually they lost sight of the fisherman, and lifeguards from the Omaha Surf Lifesaving Club later found him floating face-down in the water.

“One of the attending lifeguards noted that Younchang was wearing a full wetsuit with water shoes and a hat,” the Coroner detailed.

“When he was retrieved from the water, he still had a container attached to his arm, containing rope and possibly a bag of bait. He was not wearing a life jacket.”

Coroner Woolley said the case highlighted the importance of wearing a lifejacket and fishing in a group of at least two people.

“The longer a fisher can stay afloat, the more chance there is for emergency services or lifeguards to reach that person and successfully save their life. This is the single most effective measure for preventing drowning fatalities.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

If you’re fed up with Northern Hemisphere listicles on how to prepare for a cold Christmas, here’s a taste of what it takes to host a summer celebration

“When you love someone, you feed them.”

This from Colin Mathura-Jeffree, who is probably the country’s premier guest. He’s often paid to turn up to swanky functions, to have his photo taken with admirers (and there are many admirers), and to generally just be fabulous.

“It’s a privilege to be a guest,” he says. “You should never be entitled.”

But give him a choice, or a clash of events, and he’ll be at the neighbourhood bash or family do.

“I will drop everything … I will be there in a second, because it’s about my community,” he says.

However, Mathura-Jeffree has spotted lately a new and unwelcome trend.

“[Something] I’ve noticed creeping through my social situations are people that’ll arrive and almost sabotage the food story by saying something like, ‘well I can’t eat these kind of foods’, and ‘can we re-cater?’ or ‘I don’t like the smell of that’.

“It’s just attention-based.

“Don’t do that. Just harmonise with the party and don’t be a stand-out … just really feed the energy of a collective. And that’s what’s really important for Christmas.”

On Saturday’s episode of The Detail we’re talking about how to host a Kiwi Christmas with Mathura-Jeffree (I feel I know him well enough now to call him Colin) and Trudi ‘the Foodie’ Nelson, who has put on many a function of her own – many of which Colin has attended.

Nelson says most people with dietary needs will bring their own food, but she personally would make sure there is something for the gluten-free or vegan guest.

“That’s as easy as going and getting some cherry tomatoes, which are like little red baubles, and putting them on a big bed of … green leafy cos, or some nice fancy lettuces and just plonking the red baubles on the top and a bit of feta which is the red, white and green. There’s a GF dish right in one. It’s quite easy and it’s quite festive.”

Trudi agrees with Colin on the need for harmony.

“I think that’s a huge, huge word for Christmas, it’s a completely stressful time of year.”

Especially where family dynamics are involved, and especially if they’re staying with you.

“You’ve just got to smile, smile and smile some more. So get dressed in that red or green outfit, put on that festive hat. Look at yourself in the mirror before everyone arrives and just smile and say ‘you’ve got this’. Peace. Harmony.

“It’s amazing how far that will actually go, a great attitude. It actually works wonders. You might not have thought of every dish, you might not have the fancy napkins, but if you smile and just welcome people …. it’s absolutely key.”

When it comes to decor, Colin says it’s good to have a bit of an understanding of the theme.

“People want to walk into a wonderland … it can just be something quite petite and small or it can be magnificent … you know, one Kardashian-type mad room. People love that.”

So put your tree up. Trudi says there’s a life hack for that – lay out your decorations and get guests to pick one to place on the tree as they come in.

Both agree a wreath on the front door is essential.

Colin says he’s conscious now about waste, and says if it’s recyclable, it’s better.

Silver ferns and pohutukawa in a vase adds a real NZ touch, but Trudi says don’t go overboard. Her key words for the season are calm and cruisy.

But she also understands that the season isn’t for everyone – and she’s one of the many New Zealanders who will be alone this Christmas.

“I’m just hoping there will be people who open their doors to me, I’ve got family here for a couple of days but leading up to and straight after I’m on my own.

“I believe that if you can open up your door to extras this time of year, then far out … do it.”

Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Both the doctors and dentists’ union and Health New Zealand say their focus is to get back to the bargaining table to hash out a pay deal.

In September the health agency alleged the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists [ASMS] had breached the obligations of good faith.

It asked the Employment Relations Authority [ERA] to step in to settle a collective agreement — which it has decided not to.

The authority’s report on the matter, which was released on Friday afternoon, said the bar for it to step in was high.

“There are no findings of breaches of good faith which were sufficiently serious and sustained to significantly undermine the bargaining between HNZ and ASMS.”

ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton told RNZ it was time to get back to the bargaining table.

“We will be looking for them to arrange bargaining dates as soon as possible and we need to move on, we want to find a settlement that is acceptable to our members.”

Dalton said it would take a while to work through their issues.

“I think a really good process and an ability to engage properly in our claims and their responses to those claims are the things that are going to get this over the line at the end of the day.”

She hoped the ERA decision would help other unions have good faith negotiations with their employers.

Health New Zealand’s Robyn Shearer said the agency acknowledged the decision and was committed to resuming negotiations as soon as possible.

“Our focus remains on reaching a fair and affordable agreement for senior medical staff and for the wider health system.”

Shearer said the application was made in recognition of the desire to settle the agreement and avoid disruption to patients.

“We remain committed to avoiding disruption to health services and reaching a settlement with ASMS.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Unusually dry conditions forming hotspots are affecting eastern areas of both the North and South Islands following a period of hot, dry winds.

Earth Sciences New Zealand has identified the hotspots – areas where soils are severely drier than normal – in lower coastal Wairarapa, coastal Hawke’s Bay, North Otago, South Canterbury and North Canterbury.

The hotspots in both North Otago and South Canterbury have grown over the past week, while in coastal Hawke’s Bay, the hotspot has weakened during the week, but could grow stronger in the days ahead.

Earth Sciences New Zealand metereologist Chester Lampkin said hotspots can point to where drought may be developing.

“It tells the story that ‘hey this is a very unusually dry spot’, and this is an area where we need to watch for continued dryness or the potential for drought to develop.”

The New Zealand Drought Index has shown abnormally dry conditions are being found in coastal Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne, and the Wairarapa, and coastal North Canterbury, and very dry conditions found in Southern Hawke’s Bay and the Mahia Peninsula, according to Earth Sciences Hotspot Report.

In the North Island, rainfall amounts of less than 30 millimetres fell across most of the island in the past week, apart from in the Coromandel, Bay of Plenty ranges, and foothills of Hawke’s Bay.

Parts of Canterbury, Otago and Marlborough recorded under 15 mm of rain.

Sweltering temperatures have swept through parts of the country in recent days, with Christchurch Airport exceeding 30°C, and Hastings hitting 33.0°C on Thursday.

Lampkin said the dry conditions have been caused by persistent westerlies over September, October and a few in November.

“We’re getting those down-sloping winds, those westerlies, and a westerly – not only does it contain dry air, it also heats up as the air descends or moves down the mountain.

“As it slopes downward, it gets stronger, and it gets hotter.”

Australia has also experienced a prolonged heatwave from the outback to the East Coast leading to the highest November temperatures in years, including in both Sydney and Brisbane.

Will the dry conditions continue?

Lampkin said a wetter week was expected with an easterly flow moving across the North Island, and across the top of the south island, including down to North Canterbury.

Rain and cooler temperatures were going to move in between Tuesday and Thursday.

He said it’s looking like the hotspot in North Canterbury could weaken and potentially dissipate, but in the North Island, the dryness was more entrenched.

“Overall the North Island as a whole will see wetter weather than what we’ve seen over the past week, the question is how much will get into the east of the North Island, and right now it’s very questionable.

“Unfortunately I don’t think Hawke’s Bay is going to see a lot of rain.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A man has been arrested for allegedly stealing a car from an elderly man while armed with a spear gun in South Auckland.

Police said the 42-year-old approached an elderly man’s car on Hillcrest Rd in Papatoetoe and demanded his keys on Friday.

“The driver was demanded to hand over his keys, which escalated when the spear gun was allegedly pointed at the frightened man,” Senior Sergeant Steve Albrey said.

He then fled in the elderly man’s car, heading towards Manukau.

“Our staff arrived on scene and began taking details of what occurred, which was in turn relayed to other police staff,” Albrey said.

“The police Eagle helicopter responded and soon located the freshly stolen vehicle on Cavendish Drive.”

Police followed the vehicle to Manurewa, where they spiked its tyres on Beatty Ave.

The man was arrested on the spot.

“I acknowledge our staff for their work today, preventing any further harm being inflicted on the public by this man’s actions,” Albrey said.

Police claim the same man had earlier also attempted to enter a house on Wyllie Rd in Papatoetoe, and had pointed his spear gun at a woman driving nearby.

“He walked towards a neighbouring driveway where a woman was driving out in her vehicle,” Albrey said.

“The man allegedly pointed a spear gun at the woman but fortunately she locked her doors and quickly drove away from the scene.”

The man was due to appear in the Manukau District Court on Saturday, where he was facing charges of aggravated robbery and attempts at aggravated robbery.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The Local Government Minister has announced cost cutting measures for wastewater aimed at boosting savings for ratepayers.

New national wastewater environmental performances standards hope to save up to $830 million over the next 35 years by streamlining wastewater consents.

Minister Simon Watts said 60 percent of treatment plants needed new consents within the next decade, and many were already operating on expired consents.

“These standards that we’re announcing today will make sure consenting keeps pace with the needs for upgrades, avoids wasteful spending, and reduces the risk of wastewater overflows into rivers, lakes, and the sea,” he said.

Watts said the change removes unnecessary delays and costly over-engineering.

Councils would have a nationally consistent framework for renewing wastewater consents for the first time, Watts said.

The standards applied to over 330 publicly owned treatment plants across the country, and would immediately reduce the need for expensive, duplicated technical assessments.

Watts described the standards as a major step forward.

Reducing consenting costs by up to 40 percent per plant meant a potential saving of $300,000 to $600,000, and up to 60 percent for smaller plants, he said.

Speaking to media, Watts said the nationally consistent standards meant there was now a national minimum standard to uphold.

“There’s been a significant process of engagement across the broad sectors, as I outlined, in order to set these standards,” he said.

“The Water Services Authority is taking a leadership in regards to this, to ensure that we balance the needs in regards to environmental protection.”

The new standards come into effect on 19 December.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

A senior doctors picket line in September. (File photo) RNZ / Ruth Hill

Health NZ has failed in bid to get the Employment Relations Authority to force senior doctors into a contract and end repeated strike action.

Health NZ asked the authority in September to “fix” the terms of the collective contract after collective negotiation with the senior doctors’ union repeatedly broke down.

That would effectively imposed a contract on both sides.

But the authority said on Friday it would not do that.

In its decision, authority member Nicola Craig said that would have required a high bar – and there had been no serious and sustained breaches of good faith.

“The parties are a distance apart but it is not unusual in bargaining for a lot of progress to be made in a short time, even after a long period of little progress,” she said.

The union, the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, had provided a list of subjects that it considered were still up for negotiation, she said.

There was still room for more bargaining.

“The parties are encouraged to participate fully, openly and in good faith to work together to reach a resolution,” Craig said.

In response to the decision, the union’s executive director Sarah Dalton said the litigation had been “a waste of money” and Health NZ should never have taken it.

It was time to get back to bargaining, she said.

“We are at serious risk of losing significant numbers of senior doctors and dentists due to HNZ’s intractable approach to recruitment, retention and remuneration. In the end it will be patients who continue to miss out on healthcare.”

Dalton said they had lost ten weeks of negotiation waiting for the finding.

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Sarah Dalton. (File photo) LANCE LAWSON PHOTOGRAPHY / Supplied

She hoped it helped other unions when it came to having good faith negotiations with public sector employers.

Health NZ’s executive national director of people and culture, Robyn Shearer, said Health NZ acknowledged the ERA’s decision and were committed to resuming negotiations as soon as possible.

“Our focus remains on reaching a fair and affordable agreement for senior medical staff and for the wider health system.

“Our application to fix was made in recognition of our desire to settle the agreement and avoid disruption to patients.”

Shearer said Health NZ remained committed to avoiding disruption and reaching a settlement.

“We will continue to work with ASMS in good faith with the goal of reaching a swift resolution.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Organised backyard fights are nothing new, having returned to the spotlight in recent months since UFC star Dan “The Hangman” Hooker hosted the inaugural “King of the Streets”.

The 32-man, one minute fist-fight tournament in Auckland prompted New Zealand’s Boxing Coaches Association president Billy Meehan to call the event “straight-out thuggery”.

But during production of her TVNZ series Backyard Gang Wars, 1 News In Depth reporter Indira Stewart says what she found at most backyard fight events were police being actively engaged by organisers, medics, referees, nurses on hand – and a clear effort to make sure they were as safe as possible.

The two-part series is an investigation into the many fight clubs that have occurred across the country, often involving gang members and mired by controversy.

Speaking to Checkpoint earlier this year on one of Hooker’s backyard fights, Police Minister Mark Mitchell said, “gang members tend to be violent, and they tend to not want to stick to the rules”.

But Jon Paul “Fight Dog” Te Rito – known as JP – had organised his own event called Fight for Life and said they were actually about healing, connecting, and role modelling a better way for the following generations.

“If we keep doing what we’ve always done we’re always going to keep getting what we’ve got, which is prison and a cycle of negativity. So the only thing we can do is roll more positive change,” he told RNZ’s Nine to Noon.

Ngā Kete Wānanga

The seed was planted after Stewart was invited to visit a tikanga Māori-based rehab programme by Matilda Kahotea, someone she had interviewed for a previous series Gang Mums and the person behind Ngā Kete Wānanga Solutions.

“I went over there. They welcomed me over to their rehabilitation programme centre with a powhiri. I sat down, they gave us food.

“I was just blown away … there were so many elements of surprise when I first met them.”

She said she felt totally safe, and despite the preconceptions people might have given their criminal past, described the men as “soft gentlemen”.

“The way they communicated their stories, their journeys, their paths, was surprising to me, and the types of things they said in terms of practising mindfulness. I didn’t think I would ever sit with a gang member who would talk to me about the practice of mindfulness.

“You try and go into these spaces with an open mind. You know the narratives that exist everywhere and … it’s not a community that I’ve always been around, but you go in with an open mind to learn, and try and understand the perspectives and experiences of people in worlds that are different to yours.”

JP said the rehabilitation programme had helped to make him more self-aware and more mindful.

“Since I’ve been at Ngā Kete I’ve actually started doing a whole lot of soul searching and realigning myself with my whakapapa, which has been really empowering – especially with the guidance of our rangatira, Whaea Matilda Kahotea, just helping me … reconnect with my tikanga.

“Being gifted this space, this safe space to be able to heal and realign has been a gift in itself at Ngā Kete Wānanga.”

‘Keep it in the ring’

Backyard fights between gang members were not a recent thing, tracing their heritage back to the Far North in 2017, Stewart said.

There had been several gang killings in the region, and rival gang members came together for a hui to try to work out how to keep their whānau safe, she said.

“One member, Herbert Rata – who is in the documentary – said, ‘why don’t we have a fight night and just, keep it in the ring’.

“And so that’s what it became, Keep it in the Ring, and it evolved over the years into Backyard Wars, and lots of other people began doing their own fight clubs too.”

Through the documentary process, it became clear to her that the kaupapa of the backyard fights “was healing some of those relationships and healing in communities”.

“One of the things that, I suppose, was surprising to us, was seeing rival gang members, gangs that have been historically rivals for generations, in the same room, cheering for their different opponents, but also cheering for each other.

“There are hugs, fist bumps, high fives between Head Hunters, Black Powers, Mongrel Mobs, it’s such a different story to what we’ve known and heard for so many years.”

There was never any indication that the fights could have spilled out of the ring, she said.

‘We still carry him with mana’

The name of his competition, Fight for Light, was inspired by a brother of his, who took his own life earlier in the year, JP said.

“He was a real nurturing brother, he was a rangatira of our whānau.

“He was once there in my life where he helped me fight for my light, and because I wasn’t able to be there to help him fight for his light, you know, we still carry him with mana.”

JP said he was inspired to start organising his own backyard fights after he was invited to one of Herbert Rata’s fights up in Takahiwai.

“To be a part of it, and then to feel the empowered by it, and then to take the connection element of it, bring it back down to Ngā Kete, and then create our own healing environment through way of expression.”

The fact that gang members had to live side by side when they were in prison showed them all that perhaps they could get along after all, JP said.

“We’re connected in prison, and so because we’ve lived with each other in prison for long periods of time, now we’ve come out and, you know, if we can do it in there, we can do it out here.”

However, it was important to break that cycle, he said.

“If we want our kids to do it out here, live out here, rather than going in there and having to connect, we have to role model that.”

Beyond the connection, fighting also helped with mental heath, JP said.

“My normal is totally different to to, you know, maybe your normal … what I think is normal, you might think is outrageous.

“And because I’m trying to stick to what, you know, your normal may be, it’s actually quite hard for me. So, that’s the built-up energy that I’m talking about.

“It’s a positive thing, you know, because if it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.”

Waking up each day to those challenges was a beautiful thing, and he was trying to role model that for his rangatahi, he said.

Even after her documentary was complete, there were still questions and concerns with the safety of some events, Stewart said.

“There was one particular event that we filmed out in South Auckland and there were quite a few knockouts in those rounds. And, some of the pairings of particular fighters, some were very, very experienced with someone that was not experienced or, 15 kgs heavier with someone that was, a lot lighter and not, not as fit.”

Hooker’s events could be particularly dangerous because of the high prize money, she said.

“Heimuli is a 10 time world champion MMA coach. And one thing he said is that when you put a carrot like that in front of some of these people, you might get some people who are just not ready to be in that space, and it can be very dangerous.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Riddled with anxiety, no sleep and no answers – some parents are worrying about about what the long-term impact of exposure to asbestos-contaminated children’s coloured play sand could be.

Over the past two weeks, there’s been rolling recalls of the magic sand used by children and schools across the country, raising concerns about imported children’s products.

Parents said they’re worried about the long-term impacts of exposure and the costs of testing and removal.

They’ve also raised concerns about the lack of safety checks in imported children’s products.

As Amber Nordmeyer picked up her remote, switched on her TV and flicked on the news, pictures of Kmart play-sand flashed across her screen.

To Nordmeyer’s horror, the recall numbers on her TV screen matched those on the buckets of green Kmart sand, that she purchased five years ago.

“It’s been really difficult; I haven’t been able to sleep for over a week.

“The shock of seeing the recalled product numbers that I had in my home on the news was extreme I felt sick to my stomach and went into a complete panic.”

Nordmeyer sent a bucket of the sand for testing, costing her $287.

She’s worried other parts of her house are contaminated too.

Lower Hutt parent Keren Lee said two years ago she bought coloured Kmart play sand for her 10-month-old and 3-year-old.

She was waiting anxiously to hear the results of tests, whether she’ll have to get her whole house tested and how much it will cost.

The tests have come back positive for asbestos.

“I think for people like me who have had it in the house, it’s been played with for a while, it’s been vacuumed up, we haven’t really had clear guidance on how worried we should be about the longer-term exposure.

“[Also] it being spread through the rest of our house and whether we should be getting professionals in fast.”

Lee said it’s made her think twice about buying imported toys again.

“If it’s come into the country, surely it’s safe. I never thought I’d have to question a product for something with such a serious substance.

“[I’m] being more careful about things like slime, sand and anything sensory, I’m obviously questioning a lot more than I used to.”

Wellington parent Matt Newman-Hall said his children’s two-year-old Kmart unicorn sand kits tested positive for asbestos.

He wanted answers and to see the retailers who sold the contaminated sand held to account.

“I’ve been in touch with Kmart, hopefully getting the product noted as an official recall, but also I’ve asked them to pay the invoice for the testing.

“I’ve also asked them what else they’re planning on doing. I haven’t had a response to that email yet, but I think there’s a pretty big responsibility and moral obligation that should fall on the retailer.”

Newman-Hall said he’s worried his children’s health would be impacted long-term.

“Is this going to impact people’s ability to get health insurance, or is it going to impact life insurance levies?”

Waikato parent Jessica Jordan said both she and her neighbour were first quoted $3000 for asbestos testing in their homes.

But luckily one of Jordan’s tests came back negative and after shopping around, her neighbour got their price down to $1000.

Jordan said a group of parents are talking about taking a class action lawsuit if they aren’t reimbursed.

“I’ve looked and can see that it’s probably a very expensive process, unless we can get litigation funding, or some hot shot lawyer that wants to represent the families.”

Under the Consumer Guarantees Act if a product isn’t safe, buyers are entitled to a refund of the money as well as the cost of testing and cleaning.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment also said it’s the retailer’s responsibility to sell products that are safe.

It said products containing asbestos aren’t allowed to be imported, unless they have a permit.

Checkpoint contacted Kmart for comment but had not received a response.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The family of a man who died after being pepper sprayed in prison says properly funded specialised training is needed for all Corrections staff.

The second phase of a Coronial Inquest into the death of Caleb Moefa’auo has concluded in the Auckland District Court.

Its focus was on the circumstances of his death, how his mental health contributed to what happened and whether the officers involved adequately took this into account.

Moefa’auo had been previously diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, and was staying at a residential unit to support people with mental health issues – after pleading guilty to aggravated assault and shoplifting in June, 2021.

He was moved to Mt Eden Corrections Facility in December 2021 after allegedly assaulting a fellow patient at the residential unit.

Moefa’auo was later placed in the prison’s Intervention and Support Unit, after being found to be at risk of self-harm.

The 26-year-old had a cardiac arrest after being pepper sprayed in 2022, in an altercation over returning towels following a shower.

Moefa’auo’s family gave a statement to the Coroner’s Court, saying they thought often about his final moments, and how frightened he must have been.

“It brings us sadness knowing he was in distress, and we simply wish he could have been met with more patience and understanding in that moment,” they said.

The Moefa’auo family wanted to highlught the need for specialised training for all staff in the Department of Corrections.

They hoped that in future, when someone is clearly struggling, those around them feel supported and able to respond with care and patients.

“It hurts us deeply that Caleb’s dignity was not upheld in those moments. He deserved humanity and protection, especially when he was at his most vulnerable.”

In phase one of the inquest, which took place in July, Counsel assisting the Coroner, Rebekah Jordan, outlined the series of events leading up to Moefa’auo’s death.

He had taken a shower that day, and used three towels to dry himself.

After taking a fourth, an acting senior corrections officer approached him, holding a can of pepper spray.

Moefa’auo was told to pass the towel to another officer, which he did, before being directed to get on his knees.

When Moefa’auo began to rise, the acting senior officer shouted at him, before spraying him.

He was taken back to his cell were stopped responding.

His family recognised the Corrections officers who gave evidence throughout the week of phase two.

“Their words do not lessen our loss, but we recognise the courage it takes to front painful events, and we received their acknowledgements with sincerity.”

Moefa’auo’s family wanted stronger, more specific information sharing when it came to mentally unwell inmates, so staff knew how to support them while still keeping themselves safe.

“Alongside this, we hope to see safer processes and the consistent application of de-escalation and wellbeing-focused responses, so staff feel confident in their roles and those in their care are treated with understanding and dignity.

“While nothing can change what has happened to our son, we hope that by sharing our pain and experience, meaningful improvements will follow improvements that prioritise safety, dignity, and humane decision-making,” they said.

The officer who sprayed Moefa’auo, who cannot be named, gave evidence at the Inquest on Thursday, saying what happened haunted them.

“I have replayed those moments many times in my mind and have reflected deeply on what happened that day, what began as a situation I believed I needed to manage for safety reasons ended in the outcome that none of us could have foreseen or wanted.”

Moefa’auo’s family were hopeful for a change.

“If those changes can protect even one more life, then Caleb’s memory will help guide something better for others.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

“Just walk up and get a tattoo,” that’s the advice the organiser of the Bepanthen New Zealand Tattoo & Art Festival is giving to New Zealanders this weekend.

Between 4000 and 6000 people weer expected to cram into the TSB Stadium in New Plymouth over the weekend for the festival.

Now in its 13th iteration over 15 years, more than 250 tattoo artists – many of them from overseas – will be taking bookings at the festival, while Head Like A Hole tops the music bill and world-class freestyle motocross and BMX riders pull backfilps outside.

Event organiser Brent Taylor said staging the festival during tough economic times was a challenge, but that might work in the favour of people considering getting inked.

“I think with the economy being tighter worldwide tattooing because it’s a luxury item it is harder which means this weekend probably it will be a great chance to get tattooed.

“There’s lots of artists with bookings available and heaps of them are doing just walkups only as well, so you can walkup and get a tattoo on the day. You don’t have to pre-book, you don’t have to do any emailing, none of that. Just walk up and get tattooed.”

He said international names to look out for this year included Grace Neutral, from the United Kingdom – who was famed for her hand-poked tattoos – and United States exponents of black and grey realism – Carlos Torres and Stefano Alcantara.

“Grace just has her needles attached to a little stick and taps them in by hand, so every design is by hand. No machine at all, so that’s kind of a bit different.

“We’ve got a few of those here this weekend and we’ve got the hand-tap of Brent McCown from up north who does everything the traditional Samoan or Māori way of tapping it in as well.”

Taylor was also looking forward to catching up with Auckland artist Steve Butcher, who’d been working out of the States for several years.

Australian artist Kyle Pearson – who was returning to the festival – reckoned now was the perfect time to get tattooed.

“Tattooing is not recession proof, but it is one of those things that maybe we won’t be doing larger tattoos but smaller tattoos.

“In a recession lipstick is actually one of the big sellers because it’s a small treat that you can give yourself and tattooing is quite a cheap gift you can give yourself. It’s something you will keep for the rest of your days and take with you.”

Melbourne artist Snow was visiting the festival for the first time.

“I do a lot of dark illustrative, so lots of peppering and sharp lines quite gothically inclined, so yeah, predominantly black and grey tattoo work. There’s a lot of it in Melbourne so it will be interesting to see how much of it will be over here.”

Meanwhile, Taylor said the festival was also great fun for everyone, including those with no tattoos.

“You’ll be fine, you’ll be comfortable as. Everyone has a good time, it has a great vibe and if you are going to get tattooed just make sure you put a bit of thought into what you are going to get if you haven’t got one yet.

“That’s my advice because it’s there for ever, so you’ve got to make sure it’s something you really want, but in terms of coming up we have heaps of people who come along with no tattoos and they have a great time.”

Meanwhile, Kyle Pearson and friends were happy to look after anyone ready to take the leap.

“You can come and see me at booth D10 where my friends Bobbie Dazzler, Ink Snowflake, Paul Rapley and Odey will steer you in the right direction.”

The Bepanthen New Zealand Tattoo & Art Festival runs Saturday from 11am to 10pm, and Sunday 11am to 7pm.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

• NZ Transport Agency memo to minister says braking system linked to six deaths not inherently unsafe
• Father of man who died due to a brake failure says he’ll keep pushing for more action
• Driver had to jump to safety in latest rollaway incident
• Truck firms won’t import vehicles with cardan shaft parkbrakes

The New Zealand Transport Agency has doubled down on its stance that a braking system linked to six deaths is not inherently unsafe.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop asked for a briefing from the transport agency, after a coroner’s report into the death of Graeme Rabbits at an Auckland worksite in 2018 blamed a failing cardan shaft parkbrake.

Coroner Erin Woolley determined that these brakes, found in about 70,000 vehicles in New Zealand, could not be relied upon as a sole braking system, because even a well-maintained brake could fail without warning.

Despite this, the NZTA told the minister it didn’t accept the coroner’s views on the brakes being inherently unsafe nor did the agency accept the coroner’s criticisms of its attitude.

RNZ can reveal another instance of a cardan shaft brake failing and a Checkpoint investigation has found trucking firms have long since stopped importing vehicles with cardan shaft parking brakes, because of their problems.

Officials ‘playing Russian roulette’

Bishop refused to be interviewed about cardan shaft brakes, calling it a complex issue.

A memo sent by transport agency officials, obtained by RNZ, said it didn’t accept the coroner’s view on the brakes or that it lacked an open mind about safety concerns, but Graeme Rabbits’ father, Selwyn Rabbits, said that was exactly what he saw.

He’s spent almost eight years urging the agency to take firmer action, such as banning imports of vehicles fitted with cardan shaft parkbrakes.

“These things are just not fit for purpose, but NZTA continues to stonewall us,” Selwyn Rabbits said.

“I can’t recall anyone I’ve spoken to, any knowledgeable person outside NZTA, who doesn’t say these things are dangerous.

“It’s only within NZTA, who have taken this absolutely entrenched and dangerous position, and it’s basically playing Russian roulette with people’s lives.”

The agency said it continued to monitor data on the brakes and go through Coroner Wolley’s findings, before considering if further regulations were necessary.

It already required warnings stickers and recommended the use of ‘chocks’ – blocks – on wheels to prevent vehicles rolling away on slopes. It also points to campaigns aimed at raising awareness of the brakes’ limitations.

Rabbits said those measures were not enough.

“I saw a comment from the minister saying this is a technical and complex issue. The thing is it’s not.

“Even with a lay person, you give me 5-10 minutes and I can explain why these things are dangerous.

“A driver has no idea how much braking power they’ve implied and how much they need, and then you load it up and it runs away, so it’s really simple.”

This week, the transport agency told RNZ: “Since 2020, NZTA has undertaken a significant programme of work to understand the risks involved with [cardan shaft parking brakes], and to introduce a range of regulatory changes and interventions.

“This programme of work was initiated following Mr Rabbits’ death, and has since expanded to incorporate broader regulatory interventions and operational improvements across the heavy vehicle sector.

“NZTA will also be undertaking further action, focused on continuing to increase the understanding of the correct use, testing and maintenance of [cardan shaft parking brakes] amongst drivers, owners, vehicle inspectors and mechanics.”

Meanwhile, Rabbits isn’t giving up.

After NZTA chairman Simon Bridges declined a meeting with him, he has accepted yet another with the agency director to call for firmer action.

Another brake failure

RNZ has spoken to a North Island businessman, whose company’s been affected by another cardan shaft parking brake failure recently, where a vehicle’s driver had to jump to safety.

The man asked for anonymity, while he worked with his insurer for the vehicle’s recovery.

“The driver was climbing into the truck, when the handbrake failed,” he said. “The truck was laden and ready to shift, but just the weight of him climbing into the truck was enough for the handbrake to fail.

“It bounced over two wheel chocks and he wasn’t able to control it, before it gained enough velocity and he had to evacuate, and the truck careened off the end of the driveway.”

The vehicle involved was a small 4×4 truck.

The man said, most of the time, the brakes weren’t a significant issue, because his company’s main fleet of trucks could be parked in gear, with chocks applied on slopes.

“Something has to change. We have heard many stories of people who have lost their lives, due to an unreliable brake.

“I am not so mechanically minded as to offer an alternative, but whatever replaces it has to fail shut and fail safely, instead of simply releasing.

“A braking mechanism that locks the wheels is inherently more safe than one that only controls the wheels.”

Cardan shaft parkbrakes are cheaper than other braking systems, as they use a single mechanism at the gearbox, rather than at the wheels.

Trucking firms take stand on brakes

Southpac Trucks in Auckland doesn’t import trucks with the cardan shaft brakes.

Chief executive Marteen Durent said the recommended safety measures for the brakes, including using chocks on the wheels to prevent rollaways, were inadequate.

“It’s really quite ridiculous that you would park a vehicle and consider using wheel chocks.

“That’s the sort of thing you would have done with a horse and cart in Queen Street 100 years ago. It’s really quite third world.”

The NZ Transport Agency had probably done everything it could with the current fleet of vehicles, but it could act further, Durent said.

He even contacted the agency in 2020, saying the brakes should be banned.

“Why don’t we take a new standard and effect it from a date, set some time in the near future, do a course correction and opt for a brake system that is considered to be of a higher standard?

“I think that’s what Selwyn was talking about, and I don’t disagree with that or what the coroner says.”

Chief executive of trucking importer and distributor Foton New Zealand Roger Jory said he stopped importing vehicles with cardan shaft brakes nine years ago – well before the transport agency’s awareness campaign.

“They have severe limitations and I’m well aware of that,” he said. “Through our exposure with Foton and having a full airbrake system on a light-duty truck, we know there’s a superior system.

“For us, it was a natural step to take with our supplier to try and get an alternative to the cardan shaft parkbrake.”

Jory said he was particularly concerned about them in light trucks, which could be driven by people with no experience of braking systems that required more than simply pulling a handbrake in place.

He said Foton New Zealand had delayed introducing an EV truck to the New Zealand market, because it had a cardan shaft parking brake.

“It meant we missed out on sales. We weren’t the first to market with an EV truck.

“A lot of our competitors beat us, but for us, it was a compromise to have a cardan shaft parkbrake back in our light-duty truck range.”

Jory wasn’t prepared to make that compromise.

Foton then came back to its New Zealand distributor with a similar vehicle that had a full airbrake system.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

National MP Catherine Wedd has branded e-scooter rules “outdated”, and is spearheading a campaign to take them off the footpath and into dedicated bike lanes wherever possible.

Accident Compensation Corporation figures show claims for e-scooter injuries have almost doubled in five years, with 7257 reported so far this year at a cost of almost $14 million.

The Member of Parliament for Tukituki in southern Hawke’s Bay claims regulations around the use of e-scooters have not moved with their increased use around the country and hopes to drive change by the middle of 2026.

NZ Transport Agency says e-scooters can be used on the footpath or the road – but not in designated cycle lanes that are part of the road, which are designed for the sole use of cyclists.

“I believe it is outdated and dangerous, and we have work underway to change it by the middle of next year,” Wedd told RNZ’s Checkpoint.

“This would mean, where there is a cycle lane available, e-scooter users can use the cycle lane, instead of the footpath, which should made footpaths safer and should incentivise more people to use cycle lanes.

“We want to make the footpaths safer, but we want to make everyone safer and we’re seeing an increased number of e-scooters out there. If there’s a cycle lane, e-scooter users should be able to use cycle lanes.

“At the moment, that’s not the rule. This would mean we’re bringing e-scooters into the realm.”

The NZTA website sets out the following guidelines for e-scooter safety:

• Ride in a careful and considerate manner. Keep at a safe speed at all times and slow down when you’re near people. It’s illegal to ride at a speed that’s hazardous to people.
• Always give way to other people on the path. You might have to come to a complete stop or dismount, if the path you’re on is busy.
• Keep left unless you’re passing. Only pass people if it’s safe to and pass them on their right.
• Be aware of who’s around you – people move unpredictably and may not know you’re there. Always leave a safe distance between you and other people.
• We strongly recommend that e-scooter riders wear helmets.

“I think, generally, we’re seeing people who are responsible, but we’re seeing a lot of irresponsible users as well,” Wedd said.

“E-scooters can go very, very fast, and I’m hearing a lot from concerned parents and elderly using the footpaths and worried about there safety.

“Of course, we want to encourage e-scooter use, as it’s becoming a more popular way to get around, but our current rules are outdated and we need to take a commonsense approach.

“This is a commonsense approach – if there’s a cycle lane, use it.”

Wedd admitted some of the responsibility for safety lies with the operators.

“They’re very powerful, they go very fast and they can be dangerous, if they aren’t used properly,” she said. “If they’re used recklessly, that’s a problem.

“We just need to make sure we have some commonsense, practical rules that are going to work.”

Wedd admits the proposed rules would rely on the availability of bike lanes.

“We don’t want to be creating blanket rules across the entire country, because, in Hawke’s Bay, we have less cycle lanes than, say, Auckland, Christchurch or Wellington.

“We need to be practical about this. If there is a cycle lane use it, but if there isn’t, there’s the footpath, but be responsible. If you’re on a quiet street, that’s OK too.”

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Source: Radio New Zealand

The first phase of the coronial inquest looking into the 2019 Whakaari/White Island eruption has drawn to an end.

Twenty-two people died and 25 people were injured, most of them seriously, after they were on the island when it erupted on 9 December 2019, sending ash 3.6km into the air.

The bodies of two victims were never recovered.

Phase one of the inquest, which began in October 2025, focused on the emergency and medical response.

Counsel for bereaved families and survivors, Anna Adams said while the first phase had been valuable, for the bereaved families and survivors to properly understand the events that day, questions still remained.

“Was it ever appropriate to run tours to White Island during volcanic alert level 2, where the best rescue that could be achieved in the event of an eruption was an 83 percent civilian rescue?

“Was the official civil defence and police plan that after an eruption tour operators would self-evacuate ever appropriate given how heavily this relied on people who may or may not have had rescue and first aid training?”

Adams said it was acknowledged the plan to have the operators self-evacuate was in practice the fastest way to get everyone off the island and to medical treatment that day.

“However, the bereaved families and survivors continue to express surprise and disappointment that this plan was considered acceptable by government agencies because it relied so heavily on people who may not be trained or available.”

Adams said she’d submitted that the Coroner could make a recommendation regarding the manner in which scientific or technical advice was communicated to the emergency services in connection with high-risk volcanic activities in New Zealand.

Phase two of the inquest would start next year and explore the events the day before the eruption and whether victims had enough information about the risks of a potential eruption.

“Many of the families and survivors continue to hold the view that they should not have been present walking in the crater of the Whakaari Island volcano that day,” Adams said.

“Or at least they should not have been as under-informed about the risk, under-prepared for an eruption, and under-protected by the clothing and equipment as they were.

“It is the families’ hope that New Zealand learns from this experience, so that we better protect the people who tour this country, especially when engaging in adventure activities, and so that we do not have another tragedy like that which befell the 47 people visiting Whakaari,” Adams said.

While giving their closing submissions, counsel representing numerous agencies admitted there were communication issues experienced in the emergency response.

It’s been clarified many of these technical communication issues had since been fixed and updated.

One of the issues on the day which was explored at the inquiry was an InterCAD notification failure between the police and St John.

InterCAD was a system that allowed essential information provided by 111 callers to be shared immediately between police, the fire service and ambulance.

The Coroner’s inquiry heard issues caused an approximately seven-minute delay in the notification of the eruption to St John.

There was also evidence of a 13-minute delay between police communications receiving the 111 call about the eruption and transferring the job to InterCAD.

Other communications related problems included the lack of a police radio at The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Whakatāne which also dealt with cellphone reception and wifi internet connectivity issues.

Counsel for police, Anna Pollett, said they’d support a recommendation that a plan for an emergency response, multi-agency or otherwise, ought to be one plan.

“So rather than have multiple plans for every eventuality, having a knowledge of what expertise may be required and what is available in each circumstance may be beneficial in the future.

“This would allow consistent training of all personnel within all agencies nationwide to be more streamlined and consistent to allow for a unified approach.”

It was established during the inquiry, that Civil Defence was considered the lead agency during the emergency response, but police would be the lead agency in the search and rescue operation.

Examples of “double handling” and key information not being communicated between agencies in the crucial first hours after the eruption was highlighted.

“Defined layers of decision-making and control may be beneficial in the future. It also highlights the need for personnel to be designated for high-level communications, both upwards and downwards,” Pollett said.

“Immediate responders were challenged by the information requests being made while they were all feet on the ground to be responding to everything going on to rescue those from the island.”

Counsel for Bay of Plenty Emergency Management Amanda Gordon said they had submitted similar recommendations to the Coroner.

Gordon said evidence showed there was confusion about the terminology used in the response to the eruption.

“It’s clear that there was some confusion about who was the lead agency and the different terminologies of incident controller or local controller.

“From the group’s point of view, it’s not suggested, and the evidence doesn’t bear this out, that the confusion had any impact on the response.”

Gordon said there was a strengthening emergency management legislative reform process going on as a result of the North Island severe weather event inquiry.

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